Our Team

Lauren is an actor, singer, and teaching artist originally from Scottsdale, Arizona. She has performed and taught throughout the U.S. and internationally, from Argentina to Switzerland. After receiving her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Boston Conservatory, Lauren studied theater at L’Ecole de Comédie Musicale in Paris, France. In Paris, she performed with companies American Musical Theater LIVE! and Broadway au Carré, premiering new musical theater works in France, and taught English through theater and song to children of all ages. Since returning to the states in 2016, Lauren has directed children’s theater and performed regionally throughout the U.S. Favorite performance credits include Into the Woods, Ordinary Days, Next Thing You Know, Rock of Ages, and singing at Carnegie Hall, Feinstein’s 54 Below, and on Radio France! She is thrilled to join the team at SPAC School of the Arts, and for the opportunity to work with the young artists of this community! www.laurentaylorberkman.com

As a native Saratoga Springs jazz tap artist and educator, Tina has taught, performed, and choreographed throughout New York, New Jersey and New Endand over the last 30 years.

A protege of Brenda Bufalino, her work is influenced by the lineage and repertoire of the Copasetics Club – the original 21-member group of hoofers whose artistry laid the foundation for the jazz tap form. As a dance educator, she has taught ages 3 through adult in the genres of creative movement, jazz, tap, hip hop, and musical theatre dance. From 2002-2020, she was the owner/artistic director of Saratoga Jazz Tap where she mentored dancers, created new works, and produced concerts and annual festivals for National Tap Dance Day. She has had the privilege of teaching at dance studios and educational institutions throughout the Capital Region including the Emma Willard School, Russell Sage, and Skidmore College. As a performer, she has worked with musicians Chuck Lamb & Ria Curley, Brian Melick, Brian Patneaude, Danny Welchel, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and the Alex Torres Orchestra, and performed at Jacob’s Pillow, The Troy Saving’s Bank Music Hall, The National Museum of Dance, and In NYC at Swing 46 under the auspices of Buster Brown, and Zinno’s with Barbara Duffy & Company. She has choreographed & directed for the American Tap Dance Foundation’s “Something’s-A-Foot”, Saratoga City Ballet’s, “The Nutcracker: Sweet & Swingin”, Saratoga Arts Festival, The National Museum of Dance Black History Month Celebration, Margo Mensing’s, “Stop Time: Louis Armstrong Celebration”, Saratoga Children’s Theatre, and Saratoga Springs High School Drama Club. Her passion is sharing the joy of dance & rhythm with people of all ages and abilities, uplifting and empowering them to experience the freedom of artistic expression. With a B.A. degree in Theatre Arts & Directing from the State University of New York at Albany, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Childhood & Special Education at Fordham University, with a focus on the impact of dance on the brain and neural synchrony. Tina is thrilled to be joining the team at SOTA!

Johnny Martinez was born and raised in Brooklyn NY, moving up to Saratoga Springs almost 18 years ago.  He began his dance career in concert dance, performing with the Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance Theater and the Annabella Gonzalez Dance Theater.  Johnny then found himself performing in musicals both regional and touring, performing in national and European tours of West Side Story and Damn Yankees.  Locally he has performed, choreographed and directed with the Homemade Theater, Glens Falls Community Theater, Capital Rep in Albany, Opera Saratoga, Adirondack Children’s Troupe, the Schenectady Theater for Children, the Lake Ave Elementary Drama Club, Nacre Dance Group, Saratoga City Ballet, Tango Fusion, MLK Saratoga and some featured commercials.  With wife and partner Diane Lachtrupp, Johnny co-directs Tango Fusion Dance Company and Studios teaching all forms of ballroom and partner dance to children and adults. www.tangofusiondance.com

Samantha is a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and creative artist located in Saratoga Springs, NY where she has grown up and danced all her life. She graduated from Skidmore College, earning her B.S. in Dance and Social Work. Samantha’s dance training and teaching experience is primarily focused in contemporary, modern, ballet, pointe, and improvisation. She also enjoys choreographing and is passionate about continuing her journey as a creator in the future. Samantha hopes to inspire movers through fostering an open, supportive environment where dancers can learn, explore, and grow.

Olivia Walton hails from California’s San Francisco Bay Area. She started her theater career at the age of 12 in a middle school production of “Hello, Dolly!” Since then, she has performed in dozens of plays and musicals in schools and community theaters. Olivia has trained in improvisational theater and comedy for almost 20 years. Her passion for ‘prov started in high school, where she had the privilege to train for four years with two extremely talented Bay Area Theatresports (BATS) coaches. She played on the University of Oregon’s improv team, Absolute Improv for four years. She has been a Pro player with Comedy Sportz in Portland, Oregon and since moving to New York, worked with Mopco Improv Theater in Schenectady in both long form and Theater Sports formats. She is thrilled to be sharing her appreciation for listening, positivity, and teamwork in improv with the students at SOTA!